Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do you breathe underwater?

Mermaids are mammals, which means they need to breathe air like an otter or a dolphin. We can't breathe underwater; we don't have any gills! We can just hold our breath a really long time. 

 

What is Kuuyipai?

The Kuuyipai is the pod of mermaids that Maizie belongs to. 'Kuuyi' means 'water' and 'Pai' means 'people'. So literally translated, "The Water People."

 

Do you ever wish for human legs?

Maizie does get to have legs every once in awhile! There is an ancient ceremony which allows her to trade in her tail for a few days at a time. It is a complex process and she usually only uses it if she needs to travel long distances. Being confined to an aquarium on a plane is no fun!

 

How can I help save mermaid habitat?

*It's easy! You can start by using less plastic. Instead of buying bottles of water, use a glass or aluminum bottle that you can personalize! Bring your own canvas bags to the grocery store.  Always recycle everything you can and if you see trash on the ground, pick it up! This is your planet too. 

*Always dispose of cigarette butts in the proper receptacle. One spark can start a forest fire and destroy thousands of acres. They are also deadly toxic to both fish and merpeople. Learn more about the dangers of cigarette butts at: http://www.cigwaste.org/research/.

 

Did You Know?

 

 

*Mermaids age differently than humans? Most mermaids have been around for hundreds of years. Maizie was born in 1897!

 

*The Colorado River was named for the reddish color of its waters? 'Colorado' means 'red' or 'rust-colored' in Spanish.

 

*The Colorado used to be an ideal environment for the Kuuyipai because it varied in temperature from 85-32 degrees and was full of silt, which provides food and shelter for fish and mermaids. Now the water stays approximately 46 degrees and is too clear to hide them.

 

*A Riparian zone is the transitional area between a river or stream and the land. This area of vegitation is important to mermaid habitat! The plants help filter the water and regulate its temperature, making it a safe home for freshwater mermaids and their river friends.